Bridge-warning detacher and replacer



Aug. 122, mm. wwmw B. .3. HAEWHNGS BRIDGE WARNING DETACHER AND REPLACER Filed April '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Simfi 1 6. 1 I In m m 8 mm 1,5043%? & LHASHNGS BRIDGE WARNING DETACHER AND REPLACER Filed April 7, 1923 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 24 nvenzfargnaw by MQWC M- %M Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN J. HASTINGS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HASTINGS SIGNAL & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BRIDGE-WARNING DETACHER AND REPLACER.

Application filed April 7, 1923. Serial No. 630,491.

To all whom it merry concern. i

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. HAsT- INGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taunton, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bridgearning Detachers and Replacers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Railroads are required to provide bridge warnings, so-called, erected in such manner as to be suspended over the track to serve as a warning to brakemen on top of freight cars of the near approach to the bridge. These warnings usually consist of a series of wire hangers pivotally connected with an arm extending crosswise of the track, these hangers being usually only a few inches apart and pivotally connected with the arm in such manner that they may swing in a direction lengthwise of the track. These wires are usually a foot or so in length and there is secured to the lower end of each wire a rope which hangs down a sufficient distance, so that, if a brakeman is standing or sitting on the top of a frelght car at the time he reaches the warning, the ropes will strike him in ample time to permit him to flatten himself on the top of the car to avoid striking the bridge. The lower ends of these ropes usually reach down to about sixteen feet above the top of the rail, but the exact height varies somewhat with different railroads.

The upper end of the wire is usually formed with an eye which is connected with the cross arm by some suitable means. Sometimes these wires get bent, and for this reason and for other causes it becomes necessary to take down the wires in order to straighten them or to substitute others or to replace the ropes which are suspended from the wires. It was formerly necessary for the workmen to use a ladder and climb up to the cross arm in order to detach the wires. In Patent No. 1,207,550, dated December 5, 1916, granted to me, I showed and described a special form of hanger to be attached to the cross arm, and with which the wire was connected in such manner that the wire might be engaged therewith or disconnected therefrom, by an operative standing on the ground, by using a pole with a suitable attachment for manipulating the hanger. The object of the present invention is toprovide an improved attachment for a pole for readily handling the drop wire so as to connect it with the hanger on the crossbar or to detach it therefrom.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention attached to a pole.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation taken from the opposite side from Fig. 1.

Fig. 4L is. a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the device in. use just as it is about to insert one of the telltale drop wires into the ianger.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the parts in the same position as in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 5 but in the position after the eye of the. wire hanger has been engaged with the hanger.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 6 but with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the device detached from the telltale after the telltale has been connected with the hanger, the clamping jaws of the device being still engaged with the wire hanger of the telltale just about to strike the loop of the rope in the downward descent.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing two of the telltales connected with hangers on the crossbar and showing in connection with an intermediate hanger and telltale the device embodying the invention in connection with the latch as it appears just after the telltale has been released.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation partly in section showing the spring seated plunger and the clamp.

Referring now to the drawings: On the under side of the arm 3 which extends over the track are secured a plurality of hangers A. These hangers as. shown in the draw ings are similar to the hangers shown and 7 described in my said former Patent No.

The hanger A has a head l provided with suitable means for attaching it to the arm 3. The telltale members each consist of a drop 'wire 7 and a rope 8 hanging from the drop wire. The said telltale members. are de- 10 tachably connected with the hangers a. The head 41 is formed with a Vertical slot '6 extending up from the under side, said vertical slot {being of only slightly greater width in one direction than the thickness of the wire 7 but is of sufficient width in the other direction so'that the eye 9 formed .atthe upper end of the drop wire may be easily entered up into the slot 6, as shown in Fig. 10. The said slot 6 preferably extends 0 up. into the head a distance about equal to the full length of the eye 9 so that the full length of the eye may be introduced into I the slot. Preferably the slot is 'openat the'sides part way up but not for the full height.

Vinterseeting the slot 6 at right angles there to. r A latchorhooi; member'12 is )ivotedon apin 13between said ears 11.

has an arm' ltwhich, in its normal posit-ion, extends entirely across the slot 6 and has an arm 15 which projects some distance beyond the outer edges of the earsas shown in the drawings. The latch 12 may be turned on itspivot so as to swing the arm 1a upward entirely out ofthe slot 6, as shown in'Fig. 40 10. A stop is provided so that said arm lt cannot be turned up beyond a certain distance, preferably just enough for thearm to be swung up out of the slotand there is also a stop to prevent the arm 14 falling below a.

certain pointso that in the lowermost position of the arm 14, it will extend crosswise of theslot. v The stop mechanism for thus limiting the downward movement of the arm '14 is formed by the shoulder 16 of the wall 17 whichconnects the two ears 11, 11. This shoulder is engaged by the upper side of a V shoulder on thefarm 15 when the arm M is turned down, thus forming a stop to limit the downward turning of the arm 14:. Nhenthe latch is in its normal position with the arm 14 extending crosswise of the slot 6, the arm 15' will engage the under side of the said shoulder16. \Vhen the latch is turnedsovasto swing the arm 1411p out of the slot 6, the shoulder 18 of the arm 14 wlll strike against the inside face of the wall 17 and thereby limit the upward turning of the arm l l. Preferably the arm 14: ove'rbalances the '65 arm 15 of the latch, the said latch being free aid latch to turn on its pivot so that the excess weight of the arm 14 over the weight of the arm 15 will cause the arm 14: to normally remain in its downward position crosswise of the slot. It is obvious that a spring or any other suitable equivalent could be employed to retain the said arm 14. normally in its downward position.

\Vhen it is desired to engage the eye 9 of the drop wire 7 with the hanger, the eye 9 of the drop wire will be inserted into the slot 6 from the underside and pushed up, the upper end of the eye thereby pushing up the arm 14, turning it on its pivot until the upper end of the eye rides by the end 01? the arm 14, whereupon the weight of the arm 14 will then cause. it to drop back through the eye'and crosswise of the slot 6, as shown in Fig. 10, so that the wire will be hung on the arm 14. \Vhenever it is desired to release the drop wire, the arm 15 will be pulled down and the arm 14 will be tilted up and back out of the slot 6. By reason of the outwardly curved end of the arm 14, the eye of the drop wire will slide off the arm L1 and drop out of the hanger.

The object of the present invention is to provide a suitable device which may be attached to the end of a pole whereby an operative standing on the ground may readily connect the drop wire with the hanger or disengage it therefrom. A device embodying the invention is shown in the drawings and is as follows: A tubular socket member 20 is adapted to be fitted over the end of a pole 21. Connected with the said socket member are two leaves 22 22 forming clamping jaws which normally lie close together and are capable of being sprung apart at their outer edges. Said jaws are provided with outwardly flaring wings 23, 23 at their outer edges to provide a ready entrance for the drop wire as will be hereinafter explained.

Preferably said clamping jaws are made integral with the tubular socket membcr 20, the whole being made of spring sheet metal which is bent to the required shape under tension and the two jaws are kept normally closed by rivets 2a or other suitable means. Preferably the said jaws widen out from the bottom upwards being upwardly inclined on the outer edge for the purpose as will be hereinafter described.

The said two jaws are each formed with a vertical concave bend or groove 25 in their inner faces. the said two concave portions being complementary to each other to form a pocket to receive the drop wire "1' when the jaws are spread open.

The shank of the drop wire may be inserted between the two jaws by guiding it laterally through the passage between the two flaring wings 23, 23, and by a slight lateral pressure of the wire it will spread apart the said two jaws until the wire reaches the pocket formed by the two concave grooves 25, the eye of the drop wire being in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the jaws. The strength of the spring in the jaws is sufficient to hold the drop wire clamped in this position. When the drop wire is thus mounted between the jaws, the pole may be raised by the operative tobring the eye of the drop wire into the slot 6 of the hanger and pushed upward until the eye of the drop wire tips up the latch farenough for the upper end of the eye to ride on to the upper side of the arm 14; when the latch will drop back into locking position. The pole may then be moved to cause the disengagement of the jaws from the drop wire.

Preferably means are provided for'guiding the drop wire to more readily accomplish the engagement of the drop wire with the hanger. The means which are provided are as follows (see Fig. 11): Secured to one side of one of the spring jaws is a tubular member or barrel 26 lying parallel with the tubular socket member 20. Also attached to the said jaw is a second tubular member 27 lying parallel with the tubular member 26. A plunger member is provided, preferably formed out of a single wire bent so as to form a horizontal head 28 and two leg members 29 and 30, said leg members being; engaged respectively with the two tubular guides 26 and 27, said plunger being vertically slidable in said tubular guide members. A coil spring 31 is enclosed in said tubular guide member 26 and surrounds the plunger leg 29, one end of said spring being seated upon a shoulder 32 in said tubular member, the other end of said spring bearing against a stop 33 on said plunger leg. The tension of said spring is such that it normally holds the head of said plunger raised at some distance above the jaw, as shown in Fig. 11. The plane of the two plunger legs 29 and 30 is slightly to one side of the plane of the two jaws but parallel therewith leaving a narrow space between the plane of the plungers and the plane through the eye of the hanger slightly more than the thickness of the back wall 34 of the slot 6. In utilizing the guide member, the hanger should be inserted between the jaws so that the eye 9 will be some distance above the upper edge of the jaws, substantially as high as the upper edge of the head 4 of the plunger member, with the plane of the eye of the drop wire parallel with the plane of the two plunger members. With the parts in this position, the operator will then hold the pole upright, reaching it up into position so that the eye 9 will enter the slot 6 and the head 28 of the plunger will be on the outer side of the wall 3a of the hanger, so that the eye of the drop wire and the head of the plunger will straddle the said wall 34 which thus serves as an additional guide to center the drop wire. See Figs. 5 and 6. Now when the pole is pushed up the head of the plunger will engage the under side of the crossbar 3 or of the flange on the hanger, which stops the further upward movement of the plunger. As the pole is pushed further up the spring in the barrel of the plunger guide will yield to allow the movement of the pole, and the jaws mounted on the pole will slide upward on the plunger and carry the drop wire until the eye of the drop wire is engaged with the latch. See Figs. 7 and 8. The eye of the drop wire will tip the latch on its pivot and allow the drop wire to be engaged on the upper side of the latch. The pole should then be pulled down until the lower ends of the inclined faces of the wings engage the rope at the lower end of the drop wire, and then during the continued downward pull of the pole and by reason of the upward inclination of the wings as well as their flaring arrangement the rope will ride on the inner faces of the flaring wings, which will act as a sort of cam to pull the wire out from between the spring jaws. See Fig. 9 in which the wings are just about to engage the rope.

.In order to aid in disengaging the drop wire from the hanger I attach to one of the jaws a loop member 35 which may be engaged with the outer projecting arm 15 of the hanger to thereby pull down said arm and turn up the latch arm 14 to disengage it from the eye of the drop wire. Preferably this loop member is formed of a single wire bent intermediate its ends in such manner as to form a loop portion 35, the ends being twisted together to form a shank 36 which is secured by soldering or otherwise to one of the side jaws of the clamping member. Preferably this loop member is formed so as to have a straight upper edge 36 substantially at right angles to the plane of the plunger members 29, 30, said loop member extending somewhat above the head 28 of the said plunger members. The purpose of thus making the head 36 of the loop member 35 at right angles to the plane of the head 28 of the plunger members is to enable the said loop member to be used as a guide when the drop wire is to be assembled with the hanger by sliding said head along on the face ofi the crossbar so as to aid in positioning the jaws and the drop wire while the pole is stretched up at arms length. See Figs. 5 and 6.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, two cooperating clamping members mounted on a holder, said clamping members being adapted to yieldingly hold a drop wire, and a guide member extending above said clamping members to guide the'positioning of the drop wire with relation to a hanger with which it is to be connected.

2. In a device of the character described,

two. cooperating clamping 'members mounted on a holder, said-clamping members being adaptedto yieldingly hold a'drop wire, and

a1 spring seated guide member extending above said clamping members to guide the positioning of the drop wire with relation to a hanger with .which it is to' be connected. V

'3.- Ina device of the character described,

two cooperating clamping members mounttending upwardly in a plane parallel with the :drop wirewhen heldby the said clamping member and spaced slightly apart there from. r I

4. In adevice of the character described, two; cooperating clamping members mounted on a holder, said clamping members being adapted 'to yieldingly hold a drop wireaguidemember extending above said clampingmembers to guide the position of the dropIwire-with relation to ahanger with which it is to be connected, and a sec-- ond-gufidemember which extends upwardly above said first guide member and hasa head which lies in plane transversely of the plane of the said clamping members and isadapt-ed to aid in. positioning the drop Wire and said first guide member with relation to a hanger for the drop wire.

5. In a device of the character described,- two cooperating clamping members mounted on a holder, saicl' claniping members being adapted to yieldingly hold a drop. wire,a guide. member extending above said clamping members to guide the positioning of thed'rop' wire with relation to a hanger with which it is to be connected, and a member extending above the said clamping members havinga loop at its upper end.

6. In a deviceof the character described, twocooperating spring clamping members normally held closed under tension, said clamping members being capable of being spread open at one: side against the tension 'of'the spring, the side edges of said clamping members adjacent the; open. side 'ter -minatiiig in wings which flare away from each other to forms guide to the entrance between 'the said clamping 1 members, said clamping members increasing in width from the bottom toward the top by an outward upward flare on the edge whichforms the entrance to the clamping members.

7. A bridge warning detacher and replacer having spring clamping members to yieldingly hold a bridge warning drop wire and a guide mounted adjacent said clamping members adapted to guide the positioning of the drop wire with relation to a hanger with which the drop wire is to be connected.

8. A bridge warning detacher and replacer having spring. clamping members to yieldingly hold a bridge warning drop wire and a guide mounted adjacent said clamping members adapted to guide the operator in positioning the drop wire with relation to a hanger with which the drop wire is to be connected,.and a member carried by said holder having means for tripping the drop wire from its hanger.

9. In a device of the character described, two cooperating spring clamping members normally held closed under tension, said clamping members being capable of being spread. open at one side against the tension of the spring, a socket member for attaching the device to a pole, and a guide membermounted on one side of one of the clamping members in a plane parallel with and slightly spaced apart from the plane of the clamping members.

10. Ina device of the character described, two cooperating spring clamping members normally held closed under tension, said clamping members being capable of being spread open atone side against the tension of the spring, a socket member for attaching the device to a pole, and a spring scated guide member mounted on one side oi one of the clamping members in a plane parallel. with and slightly spaced apart from the plane oi" the clamping members.

11. In a device of the character described, two cooperating spring clamping members normally held closed under tension, said clamping members being capable of being spread open at one side against the tension of the spring, a socket member for attaching the device to a pole, and a guide member consisting of a spring seated plunger rod mounted in guides on the face of one of the clamping members and having a head which lies in a plane parallel wit-h the plane of the said clamping members and spaced a slight distance apart therefrom.

12. In a device of the character described, two cooperating spring clamping members normally held closed under tension. said clamping members being capable of being, spread open at one side against the tension of the spring, a socket member for attaching the device to a pole, and a guide member consisting of a wire rod bent to form two parallel downwardly extending legs and a straight top, guides mounted on the side of one of the clamping members to receive the legs of the said guide member, and a spring seat for said guide rod. the top of the guide lying in aplane parallel with the plane of the clamping members and spaced slightly apart therefrom.

l3. In a device of the character described, two cooperating spring clamping members normally held closed under tension, said clamping members being capable of being spread open at one side against the tension of the spring, a socket member for attaching the device to a pole, and a guide member consisting of a Wire rod bent to form two parallel downwardly extending legs and a straight top, guides mounted on the side of one of the clamping members to receive the legs of the said guide member, a

spring seat for said guide rod, the top of the guide lying in a plane parallel with the plane of the clamping members and spaced slightly apart therefrom, and a loop member having a stem which is secured to the other clamping member and extends upwardly therefrom, said loop member extending somewhat above the top of said guide member, the plane of said loop member extending transversely of the plane of the jaws of the guide member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN J. HASTINGS. 

